Funny bedtime stories
42 short stories to read aloud
Bedtime doesn’t have to be solemn. These are the shelf’s funny and gently silly stories: mix-ups, bargains that go sideways and very determined animals.
In Duchess and the Runt Cloud, a dignified pig tiptoes up to the weather-mill at night to steal herself a rain cloud and keeps bringing home the wrong one. How to Look After Custard leaves nine-year-old Bea in charge of her grandma’s hiccuping dragon, with only a letter of very strange instructions to go on. In That’ll Do Nicely, Thank You, a borrowed magic porridge pot won’t stop, and soon warm porridge is rolling out through the cat flap and down the lane.
A few, from the world of Starfall, are dry comedies for grown-ups about people trying to get their work done.
Pim Puts the Sea to BedNobody on Button Island has slept for a week because the sea is overtired and too cross to admit it, so a small boy in one boot goes down to the harbour to put it to bed.
Hilda Gives the WeatherDot’s cow Hilda gives whatever weather is in the sky when she’s milked, so when Grandad’s knee says rain for Saturday’s picnic, Dot sets out to bottle a sunny Monday and save it.
The Jar That Kept the WindOn the night watch on Whistling Ridge, a fallen star lands in Pip Underweather’s sound jar, and Sable Windreader has a jar that blows the same gust over and over until dawn.
Hattie Minds the Wind JarsHattie has promised to keep every wind in its jar until her Gran gets home, but Gran’s large orange cat has other plans.
The Little Storm in the AtticNia is eight and an expert at putting her baby brother to bed, and tonight she has to do the same for a lost little storm cloud hiccuping in her attic.
Duchess and the Runt CloudAfter five dry weeks, the largest pig on Hill Farm tiptoes up to the weather-mill at night to steal herself a rain cloud, and keeps bringing home the wrong one.
Did Not Need ItA fallen star fleck gets caught in Purl’s best polishing cloth, and it won’t let Maren walk past a single knocker, lamp or milestone without stopping to shine it.
That’ll Do Nicely, Thank YouA boy borrows his grandma’s magic porridge pot to make his mom a secret birthday breakfast, but he has lost the card that tells him how to stop it.
The Hare Who Borrowed a ShellA hare so fast that he says everything twice has never seen a sunset all the way to the end, so he knocks on the slowest door in the meadow and asks to borrow some slowness.Eighteen Clothes-PegsMaren borrowed eighteen clothes-pegs from the well keeper in April, and they won’t stay in the tin long enough to go back.
How to Look After CustardNine-year-old Bea has one night to look after her grandma’s house-sized, hiccuping dragon, and all she has to go on is a letter of very strange instructions.
The Pie RaceOllie has run up and down the stairs every evening for a year to win a giant’s silver thimble, but halfway up Long Hill a wheel comes off his grandma’s wheelbarrow.
Pip and the Hatbox of YawnsA young hedgehog is left in charge of the meadow’s bedtime yawns for one night, and gives every last one of them to a very loud goose.
The Wind Who Wanted SocksOn a hilltop so windy the hens walk sideways, a bossy little knot-tier makes a deal with a big, eager West Wind that can’t stop stealing socks.
The Hedgehog and the Wind’s HatsA small, stubborn hedgehog whose ears always get cold climbs to the North Wind’s cave to win a hat that will stay on.
Ollie’s Pumpkin Goes UpNine-year-old Ollie wants to win the Heaviest Pumpkin hat at the Harvest Fair, but Big Sam, the one pumpkin he has grown, floats.
The Table That Counted GuestsA nervous badger wants every guest at his Sunday lunch to have a proper seat, but his kitchen table grows a new leaf for everyone who wants to come, and the whole wood wants to come.
How to Light the First FireRosie is in charge of the house for one whole hour, and the fire won’t light, because the fire is a grumpy little flame called Old Crackle and he won’t come down the chimney.
The Night the Wind Moved EverybodyA squirrel who keeps her nuts in neat rows paints DO NOT MOVE across her front door, on the one night of the year when a cheerful wind that can’t read carries everybody’s pantry away.